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THE HIND FUND.
1014 Paris. This desideratum has, however, been supplied by the THE HIND FUND. construction of a permanent school for swimming, which will be supplied with the water condensed from the steamTHE following additional subscriptions have been received engines employed by the municipality for the different purposes of the town, so that one can now have a swim at and paid to the account of the "Hind Fund" at Messrs. any time of the year, irrespective of the state of the weather. Coutts’ Bank :-
Your seasonable caution as to the " Use and Abuse of the mackintosh " (vide THE LANCET of Nov. 24th) recalls to my mind a recipe published by M. Chieux, a chemist, at Marseilles, for rendering various cloths waterproof. It consists of steeping the cloth in a solution of acetate of aluminium, and leaving it there for a few minutes until it Subscriptions may be paid to Dr. Richardson, F.R,S., is well saturated. It is then to be removed, and, without (chairman), 25, Manchester-square ; John Tweedy, Esq., any pressing or twisting, the cloth should be hung up and F.R.C.S., 24, Harley-street, Hon. Treasurer; A. J. Pepper, exposed to the air for three or four days to dry. By this and T. Wakley, jun., means, which is simple and inexpensive, the material Eqq., F.R.C.S., 122, Gower-street; (cotton, wool, or silk), while rendered perfectly waterproof, Esq., L.R.C.P., 96, Redcliffe-gardens, Hon. Secretaries; or does not prevent the escape of the insensible perspiration of to Messrs. Coutts & Co., Strand. the body, which would be an advantage over the mackintosh or any other article of wearing apparel made of indiarubber, which is both air- and water-proof. THE ROGERS TESTIMONIAL. While on this subject, I may mention that another author, in the Hygiene Pratique, writes that boots and shoes may To the Editor of THE LANCET. be rendered waterproof by soaking them for some hours in SIR,—Will you kindly insert the enclosed sixth list of thick soap-water. The compound penetrates the leather, and in this week’s LANCET, and oblige, yours truly, subscriptions which it there forms a fatty acid renders impervious to water. J. WICKHAM BARNES. Paris, Dec. 4th. Poor-law Medical Officers’ Association, 3, Bolt-court, Fleet-street, London, Dec. 5th, 1883.
NEW YORK.
(From our own Correspondent.) AN amendment of the law relating to wills in the State of Illinois is worthy of the consideration of other Legislatures. It provides that any individual about to make his will may call for an official examination into his sanity. If the applicant is pronounced of sound mind, the question of his sanity cannot be raised in any legal issue after his death, and the will must be administered as made by the testator if no other valid reason for rejecting it can be maintained. In most cases of disputed wills no sound objection can be raised ; but the legal mind can always make up a case on the question of "insanity." There are many advantages in the Illinois method of dealing with this question, as the testator can give evidence and look after his own "sanity"; while expectant legatees will hardly mar their prospects by casting such a reproach on an innocent man. This subject reminds me that two excellent works on insanity have recently been published in New York, which are more comprehensive and readable than other modern works on this form of disease. I refer to a " Treatise on Insanity in its Medical Relations," by Dr. William A. Hammond, published by Messrs. D. Appleton and Co., and "Insanity, its Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment," by Dr. E. C. Spitzka, published by Bermingham and Co. of New York. Either of these works may be read with advantage by those who desire to find within the limits of a single volume an able exposition of the subject and a résumé of the best literature, both European and
American, treating on insanity. As I notice that the medical ambulance system is being carried out in London, I would suggest the American model
should not be taken without some amendment suited to the special requirements of England. Several complaints have been recently made in New York respecting unnecessary delay in responding to calls. Last week { called by chance to see a gentleman at the University Building in this city, and found him in his laboratory suffering from asphyxia due to inhaling the ordinary illuminating gas. He had reclined in an easy-chair before a gas stove, and fell asleep after closing doors and windows. The pipe from the stove became choked with soot, and hence the result. In this case prompt assistance was needed, but he had been lying on the floor of his office three-quarters of an hour before an ambulance arrived from a hospital; during this time the victim was apparently in a dying state. In another instance, last week, in the
case
of
a
man
taking poison,
two hours
elapsed
before an ambulance was obtained; in consequence the sufferer was lost, assistance having arrived too late to be of any service. In both these cases the ambulance system failed; had no ambulance service existed, the sufferers could have been New
placed in the hospital in ten York, Nov. 8th.
or
fifteen minutes.
Obituary. ROBERT TAYLER,F.R.C.S. BY the death of Mr. Robert Tayler, F.R.C.S., which took place at his residence, Old Steine, Brighton, on Wednesday, Nov. 21st., the profession has lost one of its oldest members and Brighton a very notable figure. Mr. Tayler was in his ninetieth year, and had completed exactly seventy years of active professional life. When he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1813 it was a time of war, and the regulations with regard to age were less strict than they He was then under twenty years of age. The are now. same year he came to Brighton as assistant to ihe late Mr. Newnham, whose partner he afterwards became, and since then he continued to practise up to the time of his last illness. As a student at St. Bartholomew’s, Mr. Tayler was a pupil of Abernethy, and distinguished himself by the rapidity and ease with which he passed his examinations. Of the same generation and the same school as Sir William Lawrence, he was, like him, a giant in strength aud decision. He won fame at Brighton chiefly as an accoucheur, in which branch of the profession his personal strength and unfailing presence of mind served him in good stead. Though a man of hasty and even violent temper, his patience was inexhaustible. particularly in cases of prolonged and tedious lahour. His reputation extended far beyond Brighton, and difficult cases were frequently sent down to him from London. No man ever won more thoroughly the confidence and respect of his patients. One remarkable feat of en. durance and self-sacrifice is related of him, A friend of his was ill at Portsmouth, and Mr. Tayler, after a hard day’s work at Brighton, would go off to Portsmouth, sit up all
Your seasonable caution as to the " Use and Abuse of the mackintosh " (vide THE LANCET of Nov. 24th) recalls to my mind a recipe published by M. Chieux, a chemist, at Marseilles, for rendering various cloths waterproof. It consists of steeping the cloth in a solution of acetate of aluminium, and leaving it there for a few minutes until it Subscriptions may be paid to Dr. Richardson, F.R,S., is well saturated. It is then to be removed, and, without (chairman), 25, Manchester-square ; John Tweedy, Esq., any pressing or twisting, the cloth should be hung up and F.R.C.S., 24, Harley-street, Hon. Treasurer; A. J. Pepper, exposed to the air for three or four days to dry. By this and T. Wakley, jun., means, which is simple and inexpensive, the material Eqq., F.R.C.S., 122, Gower-street; (cotton, wool, or silk), while rendered perfectly waterproof, Esq., L.R.C.P., 96, Redcliffe-gardens, Hon. Secretaries; or does not prevent the escape of the insensible perspiration of to Messrs. Coutts & Co., Strand. the body, which would be an advantage over the mackintosh or any other article of wearing apparel made of indiarubber, which is both air- and water-proof. THE ROGERS TESTIMONIAL. While on this subject, I may mention that another author, in the Hygiene Pratique, writes that boots and shoes may To the Editor of THE LANCET. be rendered waterproof by soaking them for some hours in SIR,—Will you kindly insert the enclosed sixth list of thick soap-water. The compound penetrates the leather, and in this week’s LANCET, and oblige, yours truly, subscriptions which it there forms a fatty acid renders impervious to water. J. WICKHAM BARNES. Paris, Dec. 4th. Poor-law Medical Officers’ Association, 3, Bolt-court, Fleet-street, London, Dec. 5th, 1883.
NEW YORK.
(From our own Correspondent.) AN amendment of the law relating to wills in the State of Illinois is worthy of the consideration of other Legislatures. It provides that any individual about to make his will may call for an official examination into his sanity. If the applicant is pronounced of sound mind, the question of his sanity cannot be raised in any legal issue after his death, and the will must be administered as made by the testator if no other valid reason for rejecting it can be maintained. In most cases of disputed wills no sound objection can be raised ; but the legal mind can always make up a case on the question of "insanity." There are many advantages in the Illinois method of dealing with this question, as the testator can give evidence and look after his own "sanity"; while expectant legatees will hardly mar their prospects by casting such a reproach on an innocent man. This subject reminds me that two excellent works on insanity have recently been published in New York, which are more comprehensive and readable than other modern works on this form of disease. I refer to a " Treatise on Insanity in its Medical Relations," by Dr. William A. Hammond, published by Messrs. D. Appleton and Co., and "Insanity, its Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment," by Dr. E. C. Spitzka, published by Bermingham and Co. of New York. Either of these works may be read with advantage by those who desire to find within the limits of a single volume an able exposition of the subject and a résumé of the best literature, both European and
American, treating on insanity. As I notice that the medical ambulance system is being carried out in London, I would suggest the American model
should not be taken without some amendment suited to the special requirements of England. Several complaints have been recently made in New York respecting unnecessary delay in responding to calls. Last week { called by chance to see a gentleman at the University Building in this city, and found him in his laboratory suffering from asphyxia due to inhaling the ordinary illuminating gas. He had reclined in an easy-chair before a gas stove, and fell asleep after closing doors and windows. The pipe from the stove became choked with soot, and hence the result. In this case prompt assistance was needed, but he had been lying on the floor of his office three-quarters of an hour before an ambulance arrived from a hospital; during this time the victim was apparently in a dying state. In another instance, last week, in the
case
of
a
man
taking poison,
two hours
elapsed
before an ambulance was obtained; in consequence the sufferer was lost, assistance having arrived too late to be of any service. In both these cases the ambulance system failed; had no ambulance service existed, the sufferers could have been New
placed in the hospital in ten York, Nov. 8th.
or
fifteen minutes.
Obituary. ROBERT TAYLER,F.R.C.S. BY the death of Mr. Robert Tayler, F.R.C.S., which took place at his residence, Old Steine, Brighton, on Wednesday, Nov. 21st., the profession has lost one of its oldest members and Brighton a very notable figure. Mr. Tayler was in his ninetieth year, and had completed exactly seventy years of active professional life. When he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1813 it was a time of war, and the regulations with regard to age were less strict than they He was then under twenty years of age. The are now. same year he came to Brighton as assistant to ihe late Mr. Newnham, whose partner he afterwards became, and since then he continued to practise up to the time of his last illness. As a student at St. Bartholomew’s, Mr. Tayler was a pupil of Abernethy, and distinguished himself by the rapidity and ease with which he passed his examinations. Of the same generation and the same school as Sir William Lawrence, he was, like him, a giant in strength aud decision. He won fame at Brighton chiefly as an accoucheur, in which branch of the profession his personal strength and unfailing presence of mind served him in good stead. Though a man of hasty and even violent temper, his patience was inexhaustible. particularly in cases of prolonged and tedious lahour. His reputation extended far beyond Brighton, and difficult cases were frequently sent down to him from London. No man ever won more thoroughly the confidence and respect of his patients. One remarkable feat of en. durance and self-sacrifice is related of him, A friend of his was ill at Portsmouth, and Mr. Tayler, after a hard day’s work at Brighton, would go off to Portsmouth, sit up all